News 11-15-2002
Sponsor: Syllabus Now Has a Voice: Syllabus Radio
Now broadcasting to a computer near you! Click on www.syllabus.com
and hear audio interviews with established leaders and creative thinkers in
higher education as they discuss the good, the better and the best uses of IT
on campus. Join host Judith Boettcher of CREN each week as she explores issues
in education technology. This week, five-time Emmy Award winning composer and
Syllabus fall2002 keynoter James Oliverio discusses opportunities for interdisciplinary
and multicultural understanding that accompany the cross-pollination of technology
and culture.
PC Industry Unveils "Next Big Thing": Tablet PC
Microsoft Corp. and a slew of computer hardware and software companies last
week announced the availability of the Tablet PC, marking the beginning of
what
Microsoft chairman Bill Gates called "an exciting new era of mobile
computing." The Tablets, introduced by six original equipment manufacturers,
including Acer, Fujitsu PC Corp., HP, Motion Computing Inc., Toshiba, and
ViewSonic Inc., run a version of Windows XP that integrates the power of pen
computing with the portability of the laptop. For on-screen reading
applications, Gates announced Microsoft Reader for the Tablet PC, the latest
version of Microsoft's eReading application optimized for the Tablet.
Purchasers of the Tablet PC will be able to take advantage of a promotional
offer: a selection of free eBooks targeted to business professionals.
Cal State Northridge Standardizes on Messaging System
California State Northridge said it will standardize its campus messaging system
on Mirapoint Systems, an enterprise e-mail application that can be customized
for different campus groups, including students, staff, administrators, and alumni.
The system can deliver wireline, Web, and e-mail services and has built-in anti-virus
and anti-spam features. "It was very important to have a messaging solution that
could fit seamlessly into our computing environment and scale to specific group
needs," said David Sorkin, system technical manager. Previously, the university
depended on Sendmail and Messaging Direct, but these systems limited the school's
ability to use other compatible hardware products.
Penn State Deploys Web-Based Attendance System
Pennsylvania State University is using a Web-based labor management system to
track attendance and associated labor costs for over 4,000 university employees
on 10 campuses statewide. The system, called Attendance Enterprise from InfoTronics
Inc., calculates payroll, schedules employees and manages employee attendance.
The application is built on Microsoft's SQL database architecture and is accessed
via a Web browser. J'el Weidner, associate director of information systems operations
for Penn State, said the system was chosen because it "integrates tightly with
our existing technology infrastructure and strategic plan."
Education Institutions Offered Break on Video Tech
A company specializing in digital video technology is offering educational
organizations from K through 16 a nearly 50 percent price break on its
offerings in order to win a share of the education IT market.
Focus
Enhancement Inc. is offering its $100,000 in discounts for FireStore FS-1
video processing system. The system, which will be available at a price of
$545 through Jan. 30, 2003, converts any FireWire or I-Link drive into a
digital disk recorder or player that lets users record directly to disk from
a digital camcorder, VTR, or mixer. Company officials said FireStore FS-1
has several educational applications: coaches can instantly review plays;
distance-learning program footage can be transferred right from disk to a
streaming server; and students in drama and music classes can quickly record
and randomly access playback for auditions and critiques before a
performance.
Integrator Delivers Real-Time Student Loan System
Systems integrator Edgewater Technology Inc. will help the loan guarantor
American Student Assistance customize ASA's student loan processing system
for the Missouri Department of Higher Education. The new student loan
processing system will be a flexible, real-time student loan processing
system that will save the state an estimated $16 million in administrative
costs over the life of the partnership. Last year, ASA was awarded a
contract to provide the Oregon Student Assistance Commission with a
customized, Web-based loan processing system based on the ASA Enterprise
System. Edgewater Technology partnered with ASA to provide data conversion
and system deployment services on that system as well.